'Stick to the rules' - What Mail readers said about 'rule of six' fines

That’s the message from Mail readers as they react to the new rule, which was brought into law as of Monday, September 14.

Announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week, the rule makes it illegal for groups of more than six people to meet up indoors or outdoors, with limited exemptions.

These include in an organised sports setting, for school or for work, and for weddings and funerals organised under Covid-secure guidelines.

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse suggested on Monday that people should be educated on how to properly follow the rule on their first breach of the guidelines, before then being fined if they refuse to comply.

The national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, John Apter, has also called for guidance over enforcement of the measures, adding that police officers working on the front lines were “trying to interpret” the rules and work with the public.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, September 15, he added: “Maybe we should have ‘guidance’, because we haven’t had any yet.”

We asked you if first-time offenders should be fined for not following the ‘rule of six’ – with the majority of readers saying people “know the rules” so have no excuse for breaking them.

Others argued that not fining offenders who break the rules encourages others not to follow them.

This is what you said on the Hartlepool Mail Facebook page:

Peter Thygesen: “You'll be lucky if they actually have enough people to police this.”

Steve Dickson: "Had enough chances to know what’s happening in the world.”

Carole Wright: “The fines that people are given should be put back into their own town for the community.”

Steve Gibbon: "And that's the reason some people refuse to abide by them.”

Helen Caroline Marriage: “This is why we are on the watchlist, stick to the rules simple.”

Mike Driver: “They should, the rules are there for everyone to see and follow. There is no excuse to break them.”

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